Oxytropidoceras Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 France returns looted fossils to Brazil EFE, November 06, 2014 http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2014/11/06/france-returns-looted-fossils-to-brazil/ Related and older articles are: Brazil clamps down on illegal fossil trade Debate rages as collectors accused of exporting specimens face up to 20 years in jail by Elizabeth Gibney, March 4, 2014 http://www.nature.com/news/brazil-clamps-down-on-illegal-fossil-trade-1.14808 Cretaceous crimes that fuel the fossil trade The Times of Higher Education, Nov. 8, 1999 http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/features/cretaceous-crimes-that-fuel-the-fossil-trade/148688.article Yours, Paul H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Hi, If fossils were exported illegally, it is normal that they go back there. Coco ---------------------- OUTIL POUR MESURER VOS FOSSILES : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 1 (Poissons et sélaciens récents & fossiles) : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 2 (Animaux vivants - sans poissons ni sélaciens) : ici Mâchoires sélaciennes récentes : ici Hétérodontiques et sélaciens : ici Oeufs sélaciens récents : ici Otolithes de poissons récents ! ici Un Greg... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Paul H., Thanks for the link. When I started collecting fossils in the late 80's, I saw a lot of the Cretaceous fish and Permian mesosaurs (common fossils in their Brazilian deposits) for sale at shows. I saw one pterosaur skull for sale during the 90's and I think it was from Brazil. By the late 90's, I saw very few mesosaurs and a lot fewer fish for sale. That told me that the export of fossils either became illegal during the 90's or the Brazilians had been tolerating what had been technically illegal until they saw the situation getting out of hand (so much material for sale; high selling prices for mesosaurs and pterosaur material). I thought it was interesting to read non-Brazilian paleontologists actually defend dealers because they were ones making the specimens available to science. I know that John Long, Australian paleoichthyologist and museum official, made a great effort to repatriate Gogo Formation fossils (primarily holotypes) that were housed in museums outside the country. I can understand a country's scientists wanting to repatriate holotypes and other significant specimens found at home but trying to reclaim everything they want that left the country over decades can also be seen as "sour grapes." Nobody seemed to care for a while (though they did in the Australian case). Despite that, over time and in the spirit of everybody in the club playing nice, the Brazilians should be able to get back the holotypes through some kind of inter-museum negotiation as in the case of the Gogo fossils. However, I think they are also going to have to show the international community that they are serious about taking care of their specimens (including compensation for foreign institutions for the transportation, preparation, and curation of those specimens which often goes unappreciated by those who don't do it). I know that sounds like a "first-world view" but it would be a shame to give them back only to find out some of them were later damaged or "lost" somehow. Jess France returns looted fossils to Brazil EFE, November 06, 2014 http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2014/11/06/france-returns-looted-fossils-to-brazil/ Related and older articles are: Brazil clamps down on illegal fossil trade Debate rages as collectors accused of exporting specimens face up to 20 years in jail by Elizabeth Gibney, March 4, 2014 http://www.nature.com/news/brazil-clamps-down-on-illegal-fossil-trade-1.14808 Cretaceous crimes that fuel the fossil trade The Times of Higher Education, Nov. 8, 1999 http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/features/cretaceous-crimes-that-fuel-the-fossil-trade/148688.article Yours, Paul H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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